West Africa West African Slave Trade

Transcription

1 Non-fiction: West Africa West African Slave Trade West Africa West African Slave Trade Long before Europeans arrived, African societies had slaves or servants. Sometimes these servants were just the lowest and poorest group of people on the social scale. Other times, people who were captured in warfare became slaves. Most slaves were always treated humanely, 1 however. Servants might be a respected part of an African household. The slavery that occurred when Europeans arrived was different and much more horrible. West Africans began trading slaves when the Europeans arrived. At the time, the Americas had just been discovered. Europeans saw unlimited potential and land waiting to be developed in the New World. They wanted the wealth from the land and they wanted it right away but they needed a cheap source of labor. Slave traders in West Africa saw this need and took advantage of it to make money of their own. They captured West Africans and sold them to Europeans as slaves. Many of the slaves went to work in Brazil or the sugar plantations of the Caribbean. Europeans also went on raids of African villages to capture slaves. African chiefs would often help them find slaves from enemy tribes or even bring them slaves. The chiefs were paid for their help. The captured men and women were held in small dungeons, 2 sometimes for months. They could not move around and were barely given enough food to live. Once they were put onto slave ships, the African men and women had to survive even worse conditions. The trip across the Atlantic Ocean could take up to three months. This part of the trade was called the Middle Passage. Slaves were held below the deck of the ship, often with their arms and legs chained. There were so many people crammed into such a small space that no one had much room. It was hard to breath. Many slaves became sick and died. Some even jumped overboard to kill themselves. They chose to die in the Atlantic Ocean rather than live one more day under such horrible conditions. Of all the men and women who left Africa on slave ships, one or two out of every ten would die in the Middle Passage. Some people have estimated that between 1650 and 1900, as many as 28 million African men, women, and children were sold into slavery. Wherever these men and women were sent, they took their African heritage 3 with them. Many African Americans came to the United States as slaves from West Africa. The bleak story of slavery is an important part of our cultural heritage. Elements of African art, dance, music, and stories are a part of everyday life in the Americas today. 1 Humanely- treated kindly 2 Dungeons- prisons, usually underground 3 Heritage- important traditions handed down from generation to generation 1

2 Questions: West Africa West African Slave Trade Name: Date: 1. Which statement best summarizes slavery in African society? a. Slaves were treated badly and lived in small spaces. b. Slaves were treated humanely, as a respected part of the household. c. It was the same as the slavery committed by the Europeans. d. Slaves were in the highest place in society. 2. Why did the Europeans feel they needed slaves? a. They did not want to do work themselves. b. They needed a cheap and large source of labor to work a large amount of land. c. They wanted to train the slaves to run the plantations. d. They wanted to transport their traditions and culture to America. 3. According to the passage, the best definition of servant is a. Someone who sits all day and does nothing b. Someone who works in another person s house doing chores c. Someone who captures slaves d. Someone who helps the king 4. Which of the following is an opinion? a. Many slaves became sick and died. b. Captured slaves were held in dungeons. c. As many as 28 million African people were sold into slavery. d. The bleak story of slavery is an important part of our cultural heritage. 5. On the journey to America, one or two out of every ten slaves died in the a. Beginning Passage b. Ending Passage c. Middle Passage d. Whole Journey 2

3 Questions: West Africa West African Slave Trade 6. How did West Africans, as compared to the British, treat slaves differently? 7. How did Europeans obtain slaves? 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. West Africans began trading slaves the Europeans arrived. a. although b. before c. then d. when 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below Between 1650 and 1900, many Africans were sold into slavery by Europeans. When? between 1650 and 1900 Who? (were) What? (by) Who? 10. Vocabulary Word: humanely: treated kindly. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: 3

4 Answers: West Africa West African Slave Trade Passage Reading Level: Lexile 860 Teacher Guide and Answers Featured Text Structure: Descriptive - the writer explains, defines, or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: The passage describes the horrible conditions of the West African slave trade carried out by Europeans. It provides information about how slaves were taken from West African to the Americas. 1. Which statement best summarizes slavery in African society? a. Slaves were treated badly and lived in small spaces. b. Slaves were treated humanely, as a respected part of the household. c. It was the same as the slavery committed by the Europeans. d. Slaves were in the highest place in society. 2. Why did the Europeans feel they needed slaves? a. They did not want to do work themselves. b. They needed a cheap and large source of labor to work a large amount of land. c. They wanted to train the slaves to run the plantations. d. They wanted to transport their traditions and culture to America. 3. According to the passage, the best definition of servant is a. Someone who sits all day and does nothing b. Someone who works in another person s house doing chores c. Someone who captures slaves d. Someone who helps the king 4. Which of the following is an opinion? a. Many slaves became sick and died. b. Captured slaves were held in dungeons. c. As many as 28 million African people were sold into slavery. d. The bleak story of slavery is an important part of our cultural heritage. 5. On the journey to America, one or two out of every ten slaves died in the a. Beginning Passage b. Ending Passage c. Middle Passage d. Whole Journey 4

5 Answers: West Africa West African Slave Trade 6. How did West Africans, as compared to the British, treat slaves differently? Suggested answer: West Africans treated most of their slaves humanely and considered their needs as human beings. The British treated their slaves inhumanely, and thought very little about their needs as human beings. 7. How did Europeans obtain slaves? Suggested answer: Europeans obtained slaves several ways. They went on raids of African villages to capture slaves. Some African chiefs would help them find slaves from enemy tribes or even bring them slaves. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. West Africans began trading slaves the Europeans arrived. a. although b. before c. then d. when 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below Between 1650 and 1900, many Africans were sold into slavery by Europeans. When? between 1650 and 1900 Who? many Africans (were) What? sold into slavery (by) Who? Europeans 10. Vocabulary Word: humanely: treated kindly. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary. 5